Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-08-09
Old Mexico.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.


Cry OF MEXICO, August l, 1SS7.-About
five sixths of the population are Indians,
and not orc in one thousand own the land
they live On, and the system Of peonage
is worse on many of these now than our
system of slavery was on the negroes before
the war. Employers are often permitted TO
fog their employees without a process of
trial, and hundreds of men and women
are bound by debt to the lords over
them and the land they live on.
The Church, under the misnomer of Ca
tholicism, s neither Catholic nor Christian.
but mixture of Aztec idOlatry, manners
and customs with the tenets Of the ancient
Moors of Spain, all Of which were transfer
ed to this country during the height of the
Spanish Inquisition, so now we find inquisi-
total buildings all over Mexico, and the
present church retains many of its Spanish
customs and ancient practices. Hence, III
nv travels in half the States of The Republic
have never never found O foreign Catholic
who could conform to the principles of the
church here, and be consistent member OF
of the true Roman Catholic Church. All
kinds of gambling known TO the country
forms a prominent part of the chief religious
festivals. Sunday is not respected by law,
but is set apart by The popular will OF the
people as day for horse racing, chicken
and bull fights, and, indeed, it 10 rare that
these pastimes occur on any other day, ex-
cept q saints day or national holiday.
There is not temperance society in the
land, and all, from the Archbishop down,
drink intoxicating liquors, and drunken.
ness is hardly regarded as crime.
In the capital as in almost every part of the
Republic, men and women are permitted TO
sleep off their drunken slumbers on the side
walk or in the gutter and are thus free from
any molestation by the police. The morals
of the people are low and the system of mis-
tresses is common among all classes and in
parts of tho country not one couple in fifty
who arc living together, have been legally
married. The laws, in many respects, are
good but they are dead letters as far as the
execution of them is concerned. Divorces
are seldom heard Of as the union is broken
with as little ceremony as it is made. Yet
when q couple are married the ceremony
must be performed twice, once by the
church aDd once oy the civil authority.
Each marriage is regarded by the other
power as non-essential but the couple, if
they be church members, must satisfy both
church and State, hence are married by
both. This binds of course, but many
among this quiet, easy going people don't
wish to be "pestered" by so much red tape,
bence they adopt more simple form.
Superficial p0liteness Is carried to a won
derful extent among all classes. Such ex
pressions as "N1y lord and MASTER Il am
your servant" Permit me to place myself
at your feet" or II will kiss your feet" are
heard ut all times among all classes. Hats
are tipped and taken OIL under almost all
circumstances, and kissing the hand is much
practiced. They seem never to lose their
politeness and even in bitter quarrel or
fight with knives the expressions of sir"
and friend" are often heard The high
wayman will fleece his victim and then
shake hands, tip his hat to him at the point
of his pistol, then bid him good bye with
blessing and depart. The policeman will
tip or touch his hat in saiuting his prisoner
and then walk him off 10 prison. While
this polteness is much practiced proper
manners or real gallantry towards the weak
or sex is sadly wanting. The sidewalks
may be block ed by men of any class, and it
would not enter their minds that they did
anything wrong by causing lady TO take
the street to get around them. They arc
seldom seen TO give up their seats in car
or offer any assistance unless asked to do so.
Among the higher class there is modesty
that does not permit lady to speak to n
| gentleman on the street if alone, yet she
may firt with him from the window for
hours at time, and each sex among all classes
and Mt all times arc accustomed to act with an
| immodesty only cquacd by tho lower animals
and which acts arc every-hOur scenes i'll the
streets which committed in the States would sub
| ect the person to tiue or imprisonment for indie
| ccncy under the nuisance act.
| The education of the nation is confined to a few
and among the professions. The time required
| for the study of law medicine runs from six to
ten years, during which time much surplus and
unnecessary work is required that is rarely used
in after life. The race are born poets, musicians
and painters but are not given to tho study of
/ popular literature, science, even the current
news of the day; and in many cities the cry of
! the newsboy is never heard, aud it is safe to say
! not one in ono hundred families throughout the
country arc known to take paper, and in the old
| book markets last-year's almanacs arc sold with
| the daily paper. There arc some ablo writers in
the country, but as a rule their ideas 20 out in
rhyme in place of solid prose-
| Many able artists work for wages that arc paid
! hod carriers in the States. and tho government
often charges them one-fifth of their daily wages
rs tax on their work. Common labor is very
poorly paid, and peon must often work one
day for dozen eggs and two days for pound Of
American bacon. Thus many of our popular and
cheap articles of diet are virtually beyond his
| power TO secure. RAMBLER.
letter from Black Rock Springs.